bluebronco28

Hey guys got a GKB CC-18817dvfx IR Camera and have dramas with it at night time.... During the day the picture is real good but as soon as night comes along the picture looks like there is light shining back onto the lens and you get like white rings around the lens and it looks crap can hardley see anything.... now we have cleaned the outside of the camera there was abit of dirt on it but still does the same thing.... and there isnt any outside lighting like spot lights or anything that could be causing this... there is a little bit of light from like the neighbours and stuff but nothing thats hard on the camera...any ideas..??

Keystone

That sounds like the IR lights from the camera reflecting back into the camera lens....... common problem with IR cameras.

keef82

Yeah, there should be a small black rubber ring thing, that sits around the lens to protect it from IR light reflecting back.

Were the cameras expensive? some of the cheap ones are just nasty.

bluebronco28

yeh but funny thing is in a pitch black room the camera is fine...

Security-Tech

Is there any shiny surfaces in the cameras field of view?

bluebronco28

there are 3 cameras all doing the same thing 1 is overlooking a driveway and the other 2 are out the back yard so only thing the back yard ones would be looking at is the femce and it isnt realy shinny........ i was just thinking of replacing them with a day/night camera with no IR and put them in a External enclosure just thought id ask coz its an effort to change

intelliGEORGE

If the cameras were full bodied, I would say check your back focus, but because they aren't, two thing that come to mind. They were focused during the day the picture looks fine. Neutral density filters weren't used.

Focus the cameras using neutral density filters, use two because they are IR cameras, if you haven't got the filters focus the cameras at night. The effect you are getting is from the lens focused too much on the housing glass, which picks up the reflection.

bluebronco28

hmm yeh might have to try focusing them at night just need to extension up the wall and to work at night time lol.. no worries i will try that and or where u get these focusing things from.?

intelliGEORGE

You can pick up neutral density filters from any cctv supplier, always good to have in the focus kit, saves you going back at night or getting a call from the customer saying the picture is grainy in the dark.

bluebronco28

thanx for ya help might have to check it out let u know how i go...

intelliGEORGE

Too easy, keep us posted. It's always good to have the full story for future reference.

Your problem sounds similar to godzilla's in an earlier thread. Turned out to be the focus in his case.

http://www.austech.info/security-ala...e-problem.html

Godzilla

I had a similar problem on one camera where the black rubber ring that is suppose to sit firmly pressed against the glass had slid a little back and allowed IR light to reflect back into the camera leaving a white haze around the picture.

Also a suggestion by George to adjust the focus a little improved the picture quality and fixed the grainy picture.

Here;
http://www.austech.info/security-ala...e-problem.html

Edit;S**t, sorry George already posted the link.(Gota be alot faster around here)

keef82

You can also use a welders goggle :P
(so i am told)
Probably a hell of alott cheaper then das / pacom sell for hehe